Abstract
The effect of unidirectional (UD) carbon fibre hybridisation on the tensile properties of flax fibre epoxy composite was investigated. Composites containing different fibre ply orientations were fabricated using vacuum infusion with a symmetrical ply structure of 0/+45/−45/90/90/−45/+45/0. Tensile tests were performed to characterise the tensile performance of plain flax/epoxy, carbon/flax/epoxy, and plain carbon/epoxy composite laminates. The experimental results showed that the carbon/flax fibre hybrid system exhibited significantly improved tensile properties over plain flax fibre composites, increasing the tensile strength from 68.12 MPa for plain flax/epoxy composite to 517.66 MPa (670% increase) and tensile modulus from 4.67 GPa for flax/epoxy to 18.91 GPa (305% increase) for carbon/flax hybrid composite. The failure mechanism was characterised by examining the fractured surfaces of tensile tested specimens using environmental scanning electron microscopy (E-SEM). It was evidenced that interactions between hybrid ply interfaces and strain to failure of the reinforcing fibres were the critical factors for governing tensile properties and failure modes of hybrid composites.
Highlights
Composite materials reinforced with carbon and glass fibres have grown in popularity over the last few decades due to their advantageous properties and decreased cost compared to their metal counterparts
Taking this scenario into consideration and as a motivating factor, this study focuses on the experimental investigation into the effects of carbon fibre hybridisation on the tensile properties of flax fibre-reinforced epoxy composites
This study has experimentally investigated the carbon fibre hybrid effects on the tensile properties and the damage mechanisms of UD flax/carbon composites
Summary
Composite materials reinforced with carbon and glass fibres have grown in popularity over the last few decades due to their advantageous properties and decreased cost compared to their metal counterparts. The average chemical composition of flax fibre is cellulose (71%), hemicellulose (19.6%), while other constituents are pectin (2.2%), lignin (2.2%), and wax (1.5%) [10,35] It is an attractive reinforcement material due to its several attractive properties such as specific tensile strength and modulus compared to conventional glass fibres. Despite several drawbacks of carbon fibres in terms of their poor environmental performances, they strongly suggested that the lightweight and excellent mechanical properties of carbon fibre can help in reducing vehicle weight significantly, and help in reducing the overall CO2 emission Taking this scenario into consideration and as a motivating factor, this study focuses on the experimental investigation into the effects of carbon fibre hybridisation on the tensile properties of flax fibre-reinforced epoxy composites. In order to understand the critical factors for improving mechanical performance of carbon/flax hybrid composites, the present work further assesses the damage mechanisms on the fractured surfaces of plain flax and plain carbon composites in comparison with the damage mechanisms of carbon/flax hybrid systems by using environmental scanning electron microscopy (E-SEM)
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